Dust bag for vacuum cleaners



April 1952 K. e. ZIMMERMANN DUST BAG FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Dec. 16, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

(UN/7L 5m,

ATTY.

Patented Apr. 8, 1952 DUST BAG FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Karl G. Zimmermann, Chicago, Ill.,- assignor to Life Ease Products,-lnc., Chicago; Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 16, 1948, Serial No.=65 ,642

. 2 Claims. (Cl. 183-3'Z) This invention relates in vgeneral to new and useful improvementsintank type vacuum cleaners and is particularly concerned with a dust bag particularly characterizedas being ofthe imperforate type which may be advantageously cleaned by thoroughly washing vand the like which .was heretofore impossible with theconventional prior art cloth dust bags.

Heretofore, the dust bags of the'cloth type have been found objectionable in that aftera relatively short time of use dust settled into then-pores of the cloth and prevented proper: circulation of air which caused inefficient operation of thevacattempts have beenmade to providea suitable dustbag for vacuum cleaners of thisgeneral class-but to the best of'the-applicants knowledge the: prior :art structures have had only limited succcess, and have been accorded only limited commercial recognition. It is believed: that "this Another object and accomplishment of: theinvention is to provide for tank type vacuum cleaners: a dust bag which may be removed -from the vacuum cleaner and thoroughlywashed and cleaned periodically or as often as maybe deemed necessary thus afiording theopportunity tojremove. all: germ laden dust heretofore vfoundimpossible or not practical with the present conventional cloth type dust bags;

,Therinvention seeks, as a further object and accomplishment, to provide ;a dustbag as contemplated herein andcharacterized by tan errangement of parts to more advantageously: and satisfactorilyperform the functionrequirediof it and adapted to provide a compact :unitwhich will successfully combine the factors of structural simplicity and durability, and yet be economical to manufacture.

Heretofore, the conventional, cloth typedust bags needed periodic replacement ;thus ,placing upon the user an additionalexpense ofcupkeep. In this connection a featureiof the invention is ,to provide a dust bag which may be,,employed during theentire life of the vacuum cleaner sthus eliminating periodic upkeep costscbytthesuser in the replacement of dust bags.

;Another important object and-accomplishment of the invention is to lprovide -,for a @tank type vacuum: cleaner a dustbag characterizedsaslhavia-ctresults'from -'deficlencies of "the prionart so lng features whereby the, dust-ladeniain passing employ conventional partswherever :necessary "and possible to effect a reduction -in-the' :cost over the prevailing types of dust" bags presently employed.

lt isftherefore, a particular object and'=.accomplishmentof the invention" to.- provide forv tank type-vacuum cleaners a. dust bag 'of. the, imperiorate type :which may be readily employed in conventional tank type vacuum cleaners to replace the conventional type dust bag .without necessity of alteration :or modification of the vacuum cleaner.

through the dust bag will be unrestricted-sa as to ;;minimize the load on the vacuum .eleaner motor even after thedust bag is substantially filled thus providing for a moregefilcient cleaning action due to the fact that the suction crpair through the vacuumcleanercwill be ;at a constant unrestricted rate.

, Another object and accomplishmentrof, theinvention is; to improve the operation zofitanktype vaccumcleaners by theincorporationtherein-oi a dust bag: of the imperforate type as contemplated herein, -;,-th,ereby to increase the efiiciency and versatility of suchtank hype vacuum cleaners; andto this ,;end,' an important-feature of the inventiorr is to provide; a dust bag; having, the tgeneral shapeofIconventional. cloth types dust: begs presently-employed-in tank;type vacuum cle aners, thereby to "advantageously provide-replaceability of the present: dust bags forthe objectionalcloth type dust-bagthe subjectdust bag being,,arranged to; provide forcollection and -deposit-of dustina particular area within the confines .of the bag and having apportion of the dustibag projectin nw rdl int t e-ic nfines of thebae prope ssaidwinward y,p ote ng:port on-bein of a generally conical shape and provided with perforations to permit the air to escape from the bag after depositing the dust in the bag, the disposition of the perforations being arranged so that the escape of air will be at a constant and unrestricted rate.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention disclosed herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction and operation are understood from the within description.

It is prefered to accomplish the various objects of the invention and to practice the same in substantially the manner as hereinafter more fully described an, as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in th novel constructionand cooperative function of the parts thereof, the combination of the parts, and the arrangement thereof as illustrated in the drawing and which will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing on which there is shown various embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a tank type vacuum cleaner employing a dust bag embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a dust bag similar to the dust bag depicted in Fig. 1 but slightly modified and embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the dust bag depicted in Fig. 1 and being taken substantially on the plane of the line 33 in Fig. 1; and

I Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a dust bag similar to those depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 but showing a slight modification thereof.

Th drawing is to be understood as being more or less of a schematic character for the purpose of illustrating or disclosing typical or preferred forms of the improvements contemplated herein.

"Referring to the drawing, particularly Fig. 1, I have illustrated the dust bags with which the present invention is particularly concerned and designated in its entirety by the numeral 20, as being adjunctively employed, for example, to a conventional tank type vacuum cleaner designated in its entirety by the letter A.

. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention depicted in Fig. 1, the tank type vacuum cleaner -A may comprise a cylindrical-shaped body 2| normally horizontally disposed and provided with glider feet as at 22 secured to the lower portions thereof and employed for facilitating movement of the vacuum cleaner across the floor. The cylindrically shaped body 21 is provided with a chamber 23 arranged to receive the dust bag 20. Normally, a perforate partition member 24 is provided and behind this partition there is Pro.. vided a suction fan and motor arrangement (not shown). At the forward open end of the cylindrically shaped body memebr 2| there is usually provided a removable cover plate as at 25 which is provided with a suitable circular aperture 26 arranged to receive the end portions 21 of a conventional hose which is usually provided with a wand and a suction plate (not shown).

It is notable that the fan and motor are arranged so as to draw dust laden air successively through the suction plate, the hose, through the removable end plate 25 and into the confines of the dust bag 20 for deposit therein and there:

4 after out through the perforations disposed in the dust bag, through the apertures in the partition member 24 and thereafter beyond the motor and fan arrangement, to the outside air.

Suflice it to say, since the invention is not particularly concerned with the precise construction of the illustrated tank vacuum cleaner and/or its associated parts, they will not be further described in detail and it is deemed sufficient for all intentions and purposes herein contained to show only portions thereof adjacent to and cooperating with the dust bag contemplated herein. It is to be understood that details of construction of such tank type vacuum cleaners and their associated parts may be modified to suit particular conditions or to satisfy the engineering genius of various competitive manufacturers and I do not wish to be limited to the construction of these elements as set forth, except where such construction particularly concerns the invention contemplated herein.

Having thus described, by way of example, a possible adaptation of the dust bag, and having described the general environment surrounding the adaptation, the specific construction and cooperating functions of the parts of said dust bag contemplated herein and with which the present invention is particularly concerned, will now be described in detail.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention depicted in Fig. 1. the dust bag with which the present invention is particularly concerned comprises in general, a cylindrically shaped body member 30 having the same general shape and the dimension of the conventional cloth type dust bags, said cylindrically shaped body member having an open end 3| provided with a peripheral outwardly extending flange 32 provided with a suitable rubber seal member 33 arranged to cooperate with a flange 34 of the body 2| of the vacuumcleaner so as to operatively hold the dust bag 20 in its normal position and yet seal off the chamber 23 from receiving any dust laden air coming through the end portions 21 of the hose and entering into the dust bag, the other end of the body member 30 being closed and provided with a portion thereof 31 which extends inwardly of the body member 30 and is provided with a conically shaped end 38 provided with a plurality of perforations 39 arranged so that air may pass therethrough, and said conically shaped portion being provided with a filter means arranged to cover the apertures 39 to seal off and prevent dust from passing through the apertures 39 but permitting air to pass therethrough'.

In accordance with the construction of the present invention the body member and its associated parts hereinbefore described with the exception of the filter means 40 may be made of any suitable metal and formed to define the general shape as shown by any approved practice, depending upon the material to be employed. For example, the body member 30 may be made of spun aluminum, plastic, or'spun glass, or any other light material having similar characteristics, 'or in some cases, portions thereof may be made of one material while the other portions may be made of another material. In the event plastics are employed, the various parts may be suitably colored in accordance with any of the acceptable color schemes which may be deemed attractive to appeal to the eye and yet be practical for the purposes intended.

Preferably, the filter means 40 may be of-any suitable type adapted to retain dust and yet s m an":

permit' air {to "pass tlierethrou'gll,said filter means being*a'rranged for easy 'removability-from its operative positionby the provision of" a :resilient rubber band likeretaining means which is 'adaptedflto embrace portions-of the inwardly projecting portion '31, thereby 1 to hold the filter means'in'its operative position. It is notable that'the filter means contemplated is veryeconom-ical to manufacture and may be destroyed periodically and replaced-by a new one.

By reason of the fact that the body: member 3fl and its'associated parts are made of the' materials hereinbefore described, there 'is provided the very great advantage of being able to thoroughly clean by-washingthe entire dust bag contemplated herein. This is very important since it has been found that the cloth-type bags heretofore employed =werevery; unsant-iary in that allpast'cndeayors to overcome. the deficiencies of the objectionable cloth type dust bags, expensive and elaborate means were employed and usually required special vacuum cleaners or special attachments to adapt the conventional vacuum cleaner to their use.

The dust bag depicted in Fig. 2 is substantially similar to the construction depicted in Fig. 1 except that in some cases it may be necessary to provide additional perforations to permit a greater amount of air to pass through the dust bag. In order to accommodate such situations there is provided in the dust bag depicted in Fig. 2 additional perforations 45 disposed in the inwardly projecting portion 44. Moreover, it can be seen that it is necessary to enlarge the filter means 46 so that it will not only embrace the conically shaped portion but also embrace the inwardly projecting portion 44, this being the only change in construction. In this connection, it can be seen that the filter means 46 is again provided with a rubber like member 41 arranged to embrace portions of the inwardly projecting portion 44 to hold the filter means 46 in its operatlve position.

In referring to Fig. 2 it can be seen that in some adaptations it may be wise to make the body member 50 as one piece while making the conically shaped portion 5| as a separate unit and thereafter assembling the two together by providing cooperating interlaced bent portions 52 and 53-respectively disposed on the conically shaped member 5| and the inwardly projecting portions 44 of the body member 50.

In referring to Fig. 4 it will be found that there is illustrated a dust bag similar to those depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception that the conically shaped portion 60 is increased in size and the inwardly projecting portion as depicted in the dust bags illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is eliminated and the conically shaped member 60 may be directly connected to the end portions 6| of the body member 62.

In general, the operation or the device is as follows: The suction fan and motor are arranged 6 so as to draw dust laden air successivelynthrough the suction plate; the hose. through the remcvable :end plate z5 and into the confinesxof' the dust :bag 20 so that the dust may i be 1 deposited therein and, thereafter, the' clear air .may flow out "through the perforations 1.disposed in "the dustbag, through thexapertures in the partition member 124 beyond the motor and ifan. arrangementfito the outside air. In accordance with the construction of. the present. invention certain phenomena .inethe flow of :air takeszplace due-rte the .irelatively restricted area of .the hose-followed by therelatively large area of the: interior of. the dust bagcoupled with. they particu aridesign and disposition of the exhaustv areas, ;-that is to say,- the disposition ofthe; apertures :and

.themarticular shape defined by theyconicalshaped; portions of the :bag,-w.illscause theidust "laden air entering the, bag to impart--a--'whirling: action progressively decreasing .in magni tudeas the dust laden air flows rearwardly into the dust bag. The, aforementioned whirling;a c tion causes the. heavy dust laden air to =Whir1 around the area adjacent the interior surface ofthe wall of the dust bag while providinga relatively clear central core so that unrestrained suction-of air through the hose may be maintained.

Moreover, the aforementioned action will cause the dustto deposit in the .rearwardly portions of the bag where the least amount ,ofwhirling action takes place. By reason of the fact that the exhaust apertures are disposed inwardly toward the forward portions of the bag it can be seen that the dust will not accumulate around these exhaust apertures thereby permitting free exhaust of the air wherebyconstant suction at a substantially even rate is maintained which will increase the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner during normal operation thereof.

It is notable that the dust bag 29 of the present invention may be conveniently removed from the cylindrical shaped body member 2| by re moving the cover plate 25 and withdrawing the dust bag from the vacuum cleaner mechanism. The filter means 49 may then be removed and the device may be thoroughly washed to remove all dust particles contained therein. If the filter means is still in good condition, it may be replaced and the bag may be placed in its operatlve position within the vacuum cleaner and the cover plate, when replaced, will hold the bag in its operative position.

From the foregoing disclosure, it can be observed that I have provided a dust bag for tank type vacuum cleaners which efiiciently fulfills the objects thereof as hereinbefore set forth and provides numerous advantages which may be summarized as follows:

1. structurally simple, efilcient and durable;

2. Economical to manufacture and readily adaptable to mass production manufacturing principles; and

3. The provision of a dust bag for tank type vacuum cleaners readily adaptable to act as a replacement to conventional tank type vacuum cleaners without the necessity of alteration or modification thereof.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but wish to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

assaso'z I claim; Y 4

I ---1; A horizontal tank type vacuum cleaner comprising a generally cylindrical housing having an inlet at one end and suction means at its opposite end; and a dust bag in said housing, said dust bag comprising an integral molded plastic cylinder having an open inlet end detachably supported at the inlet end of said housing and having its wall in concentric relation to the wall of said housing, the rear end of the bag having an annular bag wall and a cylindrical wall coaxial with the bag wall extending inwardly into the plastic cylinder from the inner periphery of said annular wall and defining an air outlet conduit within the bag, said outlet conduit terminating in a conical perforate caplike portion with the apex thereof pointing in the direction of the open end of the bag, said cylindrical inner wall 01' the outer bag wall being arranged 'todefine an annular chamber surrounding said conduit to receive dust separated from the dust laden air entering said bag, and a flexible air filter having therein a multiplicity ofinterstices and removably carried by said cap and having flexible means for detachably securing said filter on said cap.

2. In combination, a horizontal tank type vacuum cleaner comprising a generally cylindrical housing having an inlet at one end and suction means at its opposite end, a dust bag in said housing comprisin an integral molded plastic cylinder having an open inlet end detachably supported at the inlet end-0t said housing and having its wall in concentric relation to the wall of said housing, an annular bag wall and a cylindrical wall coaxial with the bag wall extending inwardly into the plastic cylinder from the inner periphery of said annular wall and defining an air outlet conduit within the bag, said outlet conduit terminating in a conical perforate cap-like portion with the apex thereof pointing in the direction of the open end of the bag, a flexible air filter having therein a multiplicity of interstices and removably carried by said cap. and flexible means for detachably securing said filter on said cap KARL G. ZIMMERMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland Aug. 1, 1945 

